Cool Events This Week, Here and Beyond

What’s on your agenda this weekend? Good local offerings at the Dudley Farm Market, a new season of folk music, and an opportunity for activism. Looking ahead, there’s a bumper crop of activities – paddle with BLT, party with the Rotary, celebrate with the Elks, and, of course, the Guilford Fair. Got a cool event? Email sebahner@snet.net by Wednesday noon.

The free Children’s Corner (10 to 11:30 a.m.) activity will be story-telling with Barbara Kiesel, narrating Native American Animal Stories with puppets, and the Dudley Farm String Band will perform. For more information, call 203-457-0770, visit www.dudleyfarm.com, or Facebook, Dudley Farm Farmers’ Market.

Folk Music Society’s New Season

The Branford Folk Music Society starts its 45th year of presenting concerts on Saturday, Sept. 15 with the rousing, high energy Quebecois music of the Yves Lambert Trio (top photo), featuring one of the iconic artists responsible for reviving the traditional folk music of Quebec in the 1980s. The concert is at 8 p.m. in the auditorium of the First Congregational Church of Branford, 1009 Main St., on the Branford Green.

Yves Lambert, an accordionist and vocalist, was a founding member of La Bottine Souriante in 1976 and for 26 years he was a major figure in the celebrated ensemble that spearheaded a revival of Quebecois music on an international level. Lambert is known for his ability to translate anecdotal, poetic or political texts into songs and is a key figure in the folk music of the Canadian Province of Quebec.

Admission is $20 for non-members, $17 for members and $5 for children age 12 and under. For more information, call 203-488-7715 or access the society’s Web page at www.branfordfolk.org/

The meeting is an opportunity to hear about and discuss current issues as gun violence prevention advocates from state Rep. Sean Scanlon and Chris Mattei, former candidate for Attorney General. They will discuss everything from Judge Kavanaugh, federal funding for guns in schools, to the very real threat of 3D guns. They will also answer questions regarding current and pending gun legislation and what it all means at a state and federal level. The meeting will also identify ways to get involved and action items leading up to the critical midterm elections.

Since its first meeting on April 7, 2018, CTShoreline’s MDA has more than 220 members. Prior to the Parkland tragedy in February, there were three MDA groups in Connecticut. Now there are 15. Since Shannon Watts started the organization 5 1/2 years ago its membership is nearly 5 million strong and rivals the NRA. In this past year’s state and local legislative sessions, volunteers with MDA have helped defeat 90 percent of NRA-backed bills and passed 1,000 bills of their own.

Through Sept. 20

Find the Branford Hornet

Forty Branford merchants are joining together to encourage residents to find the Branford High School Hornet and promote their businesses.

Participating merchants will display the BHS Hornet somewhere in their businesses and residents can win gift certificates and prizes by finding them.

Participants will have until Thursday, Sept. 20, to complete a list of 35 out of 40. The winner will be announced at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, on the Branford green at the fourth annual Shoreline Harvest and Jazz Festival. (The winner must be present to win.)

To take part, register at Branfordartcenterct.com (cost $2 per entry to benefit Branford High School), then download the list of merchants, which will be posted online and listed in local papers. Take a photograph with your phone of you or someone in your group with the BHS Hornet and post the photo to Instagram with the hashtag #branfordmerchants.

For more information or to register a business, email Yvonne Gordon-Moser at 1229bacgallery@gmail.com.

Saturday, Sept. 22

Annual Branford River Parade

Branford Land Trust will celebrate the beauty of the Branford River with kayakers and canoeists from Branford and surrounding communities in a boat parade from behind the Branford High School to Branford Point on Saturday, Sept. 22. The event is free and open to the public.

Boaters should drop boats off behind Branford High School between 9:30 and 10:15 a.m., driving to the parking lot at Parker Park at Branford Point to leave their cars/trucks and taking the shuttle bus (hired for this event) back to the high school for the 11 a.m. parade start.

Paddlers are encouraged to decorate their boats (or persons). Then, bring a picnic and enjoy lunch at Branford Point at the end of the river journey. (The rain date is Sept. 23, starting at 11:30 a.m.; drop-off 10 to 10:45 a.m.)

For updated information call Matt Radulski at 203-627-1063.

The Party at the Pond

The Branford Rotary Club Foundation will host “The Party at the Pond,” to benefit the Smilow Center Hospital at Yale-New Haven and the foundation’s Scholarship Program. The event will take place from 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, at the scenic nine-acre pond tucked behind Van Wilgen’s Garden Center in North Branford under a giant tent beside a field of colorful mums.

Tickets are $100 and include wine, beer from Thimble Islands Brewing, BBQ pork and chicken, clam chowder, live music from “The Muddy Rudders,” locally sourced vegetables, pies from Rose Orchard, and Ashley’s ice cream. There will be a live auction and several fun and unique games. Seating is limited, so reserve a spot for this one-of-a-kind celebration by going to BranfordRotary.org or email Foundation@BranfordRotary.org.

The event also celebrates the foundation’s 50th anniversary and the Branford Rotary Club’s 90th anniversary. The organization has grown in membership and resources to become of the state’s largest and most effective service organizations.

Rotary Foundation Treasurer Bill Van Wilgen and his family will also be honored. They established the Male Breast Cancer Van Wilgen Fund at Yale New Haven Hospital. Proceeds will also support the Rotary Foundation’s scholarship fund, which annually awards $7,500 to Branford high school students pursuing higher education.

The party is open to all, but seating is limited. Register at BranfordRotary.org or email Foundation@BranfordRotary.org for more information.

Elks To Celebrate 150 Years

Branford Elks #1939 will celebrate its 150th anniversary from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, at its Pavilion, off 158 S. Montowese St.

The all-day celebration includes breakfast, lunch, pig roast, cash bar, games for all ages. Music by Hit List, SteamRoller, DJ Butch & MC Mike. All ages are welcome. Proceeds to Benefit Elks Children’s Charities and Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. In case of rain, bands and food will move indoors

Tickets are $25 for adults, $10 for kids 8 to 12, free for those under 7. Advanced ticket purchase required at www.branfordelks.com or at the Lodge.

Shoreline Arts and Cool Jazz Festival

The fourth Annual Shoreline Harvest Arts and Cool Jazz Festival will take place under the Big Tent on the Branford Green from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22. More than 40 artists and artisans will display their works of fine art and sculpture, jewelry, wood arts, pottery, metal, stained glass, painting, photography and textiles. Live jazz will be provided by Brasile and friends.

Sponsored by Branford Art Center and Branford Education Foundation, the festival will be held rain or shine. For more information, call Yvonne Gordon-Moser at 860-334-4642 or email 1229bacgallery@gmail.com and visit the gallery website, www.branfordartcenterct.com.

Admission is $10, adults; $5, seniors; kids 6 to 11 free. For more information, go to www.guilfordfair.org or call 203-453-3542.

Thursday, Sept. 27 to Sunday, Sept. 30

Friends Book Sale

Friends of Blackstone Library will hold their annual Book Sale under the tents on the Branford Green. The theme this year is “Books and Beyond.” In conjunction with Trinity Church on the Green, activities will be offered for children on Friday evening with Hogwarts Happenings. On Saturday, local environmental exhibitors will be on the green and a concert will

In conjunction with the Book Sale, the Friends of the Library will also hold a book-themed pumpkin decorating contest in which kids can create their favorite story book character on a pumpkin. To enter the contest, email name, book title, and character to friendspumpkincontest@gmail.com. Drop off the pumpkin and book (or cover) at the Book Sale Wednesday, Sept. 26, between 1 and 4 p.m. They can be picked up Saturday, Sept. 29, between 5 and 7 p.m.

First prize is a Fox Field Farm guided horseback ride, up to two hours. Second prize is a parent-child painting session at Branford Art Center. Third prize is Fired Up gift certificate for $25.

Trinity Church Fair

The 111th annual Trinity Church Fair opens Friday night with a grilled cheese and soup dinner from 5 to 8 p.m. Hogwarts Happenings, with scavenger hunt, photo booth, mini Quiddich game and more, will be held from 5 to 7 p.m.

Saturday begins with an all-you-can-eat blueberry pancake breakfast from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m., followed by lunch (hot dogs, hamburgers, and more). There will also be a silent auction, jewelry sale, baked goods, tag sale, labrynith, kids’ activities. M.P. Rice Hose Company Co. 2 Fire Engine will be on site to encourage volunteer recruiting; the fire engine will be available for kids to check out the truck.

Sunday, Oct. 7

Animal Awareness Day

Branford Compassion Club will host its annual Animal Awareness Day, featuring the Blessing of the Animals, from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7, on the Branford Green. The event is a celebration of the furry, feathered, scaly and finned members of our families – a Petoberfest of music, food, bake sale, special kids’ activities, surprises, education and awareness and fun for all. For more information, email Christina Gagne, chriskat32@aol.com.

Saturday, Oct. 13

An Evening with the Spirits

An Evening with the Spirits, presented by Blackstone Library and Branford Wine & Liquor at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, features a variety of whiskeys and other spirits to sample, plus psychics and mediums to help discover otherworldly spirits.

Psychic Chrystyne McGrath will conduct a large group reading at 7:15 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. — one session or the other can be attended. Additionally, psychics will be available throughout the evening to sit one-on-one for a brief individual reading.

Tickets are $40 per person, open to ages 21-plus.

Appetizers included with ticket. No physical tickets will be issued, check-in at the door. Silent auction will also be held. This fundraiser benefits the Blackstone Library, supporting the innovative programs and crucial services we offer to the Branford community. For more information and to buy tickets, go to http://www.blackstone.lioninc.org/eveningspirits/.

Sunday, Oct. 14

Music from South of the Border

Elaine Thoma, flute, and Neal Fitzpatrick, guitar, will perform “Suite Buenos Aires” by Maximo Diego Pujol, and other Latin American classics, at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14, at the First Baptist Church of Branford, 975 Main St.

Thoma, a flute faculty member at the Neighborhood Music School in New Haven, studied with Jean-Pierre Rampal and James Galway and holds degrees from Syracuse University, Boston University, and the Tanglewood Institute.

Fitzpatrick has performed with the New Haven Symphony, the Aspen Music Festival, and the 92nd Street Y in New York. He teaches from his studio in Branford, both classical and jazz guitar.

The concert is free; donations are welcome. The event is sponsored by Musical Art Society of Branford, a non-profit organization founded in 1920 to support and promote music in the community. The concert begins the society’s 99th musical season.

Registration is $150 per golfer. Appropriate attire and spikeless shoes are required; jeans are prohibited. Spectators are welcome. Cocktail party and lunch buffet available for non-golfers at $30. For more information, call or email Ed Vescovi, 203-415-9191 or ed@fidelitymortgage.com; or Doug Shaw, 203-494-8510 or doug.shaw@ccymca.org. Register online at www.branfordrotary.org. Register online at www.branfordrotary.org.